Abstract: Aim The efficacy of Tongpitang (a recipe consisting of 19 Chinese medicinal herbs)decoction in combination with methotrexate (MTX)against rheumatoid arthritis (RA)was to be observed.Methods Tongpitang (once daily)and MTX (7.5mg once weekly)were prescribed to 79 patients with RA for 3 months as a course.Serving as control, other 40 cases of RA were prescribed Fengshiye (a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation)combined with MTX.Eighteen cases from the Tongpitang group and nine cases from the control group were supplementally injected with Fengsiling.Results In comparison with the control, Tongpi-tang combined with MTX gave significant efficacy in relieving joint swelling and pain, shortening the morning stiffness, restoring IgG, IgM and IgA and dropping sedimentation.The negative conversion rate of rheumatoid factors reached 67.75%.There was no side- effect during hormone administration or rebound phenomeonafter stoping it.Conclusions Compared with single MTX of Fengshiye plus MTX, Tongpitang in combination with MTX gives the best curative effect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Key words: rheumatoid arthritis, tongpitang, methotrexate